Story Highlights

PHILADELPHIA – Gary Bettman had a smile on his face, dressed just a bit sharper than most fans in orange at Wells Fargo Center.

Still, the NHL commissioner claimed, “I’m here to attend the game, just like you are.”

With another round of playoffs, the leader of the NHL continued his tour of postseason destinations and Philadelphia was the scene Tuesday. The smile rarely left the commissioner’s face and with good reason. His sport made a ton of money this year.

Bettman and the NHL made a few changes this season, among them the playoff format and realignment. The two are linked and without any first-round matchup decided, the commish called it a success.

“If you look at the matchups, whether it’s the Rangers–Flyers or the Bruins and Detroit, it’s pretty good stuff,” Bettman said. “The early returns in terms of attendance, all the buildings are sold out. National TV ratings and local TV ratings are up. We set out to do something we thought our fans would like and the early returns are working the way we had hoped.”

Same goes for outdoor games. Because, in the NHL, money always talks.

With a lockout shortening last season, the NHL made up for the financial loss with a “Stadium Series” of games this season, six outdoor games in addition to the featured Winter Classic.

The Flyers have been in two of them already and are rumored to be among finalists for a third next season in Washington. They’ll know for sure “probably in the next few weeks.”

“We hope to be in a position to announce what we’re doing next year outdoors in its entirety instead of doing it piecemeal,” Bettman said. “That’s a work in progress, but something we hope in the next few weeks we’ll be able to do.”

After such a resounding success, the league feels there’s no danger in watering down its signature success story in the last 10 years.

“Within the markets, 350,000 people bought tickets for them. Six sold-out stadiums. Fans love the event.”

Like it or not, the Stadium Series is here to stay, at least for another year.

“I don’t think we’re going to do six again, but we’re going to continue doing it because the demand’s there,” Bettman said. ‘In part, if you’re a team and you want to be in more than one, you don’t have to wait 10 years or so to do it again. That’s part of the issue.”

For the Flyers that’s never been an issue. Nor has it been for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, or Detroit Red Wings. Each of those teams has played in two of six Winter Classics.

Reach Dave Isaac at disaac@cpsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @davegisaac.​